Building block



Dec. 7, 1937. C. E1 JQHNSQN 2,101,131

BUILDING BLOCK xfiwled oct. 2, 195e 3 sheets-sheet 2 gmc/www CHARLES T cbm/JON.

BUILDING BLOCK Fle'd Oct. 2, 1936 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 #A z' LM w al fw /8 V i si l 1' ZZ- ,El L

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Patented Dec. 7, 1937 UNITED STAT- ss BUILDING BLOCK y Charles E. Johnson,

Libbey-Owens-Ford Glass Company,

Chicago, Ill., assgnor to Toledo,

Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application October Z, 1936, Serial No. 103,631

y 12 Claims.

The present invention relates to the construction of walls, especially the exterior Walls of buildings, and has for its object the provision of an improved building block for luse in the construction of the wall. 2

The building block herein provided is oi composite construction and comprises briey a body portion formed from a plastic material such as concrete or the like and an ornamental facing therefor whichpreferablyconsists of a sheetl or.

plate of opaque glass although ceramic tile may be used in some instances if desired. The ornamental facing is permanently secured to the body portion by an interposed layer of suitable adhesive material such as asphaltic mastic cement and also by novel mechanical fastening means in the form of a metal frame completely surrounding the block and engaging both the ornamental facing and body portion. In constructing a wall with building blocks of the invention, the said blocks are laid up in courses in substantially the same manner as cut stone, granite, or terra cotta, being mechanically anchored to a rear or foundation wall. The vertically and horizontally adjacent blocks are slightly spaced from one another to permit the application of the usual pointing material in the joints.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become more apparent during the course of the following description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings wherein like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the same. y

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of a portion of a wall constructed in accordance with the invention;

Fig. 2 is a horizontal sectional view through the wall taken substantially on line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view through the wall taken substantially on line 3--3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the metal frame which is used to mechanically secure the ornamental facing to the body portion;

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a sheet or plate of4 opaque glass or ceramic tile constituting the ornamental facing for the block;

Fig. 6 is a view of the metal framev showing the braces associated therewith; and

Fig. 'l is a perspective view showing the manner in which the building blocks are anchored to the rear or foundation wall.

In the embodiment of the invention illustrated in the drawings, A designates the rear or foundation wall and B the front or sheathing wall constructed of the improved buildingblocks provided by the invention. While the rear wall A is here shown as consisting of conventional bricks or blocks Il! laid in the usual manner with mortar II, the said Wall may be of any other construction. l

The building blocks herein provided maybe of any desired contour but, as shown in Fig. 1. the said blocks, designated in their entirety by the numeral I2, are rectangular andthis is the preferred shape. Each building block isof a composite construction comprising a body portion I3 formed of a plastic material such as concrete or the like and a facing I4 preferably consisting of a sheetor plate of opaque glass although ceramic tile maybe employed. The ornamental ,facing covers the, front surface ofthe concrete body portion and vinterposed between the said facing and body portion is a layer of suitable Vadhesive material I5 preferably consisting of asphaltic mastic cement which tends to bind the facing to the body portion while at the same timerpermitting relative expansion and 'contraction of ,said facing and body portion.

Extending entirely around the perimeter of the building block is a metal frame I6, preferably of a rust-proof metal, which engages both the ornamental face plate I4 and the body portion I3 whereby to permanently secure the former to the latter. When constructing a rectangular buildingblock, the metal frame I6 is also `rectangular as shown in Fig. 6 and in such case includes the spaced vertical side members `II and I8 and the horizontal top and bottom vmembers I9 and 20. The sidemembers I'I and I8 consist of at strips of metal having their forward longitudinal edges turned inwardly as at 2I and 22 respectively (Fig. 4) to provide beads which are adapted to be received within grooves 23 and 24 formed in the opposite side edges of the face plate I4 (Fig. 5).

Each of the side members I'l and I8 has secured to the inner surface thereof a channel member 25 extending substantially the entire length of said side member and including .the spaced inwardly directed parallel flanges 26 and 21. The flanges 26 are spaced inwardly of the beads 2l and 22 and are adapted to engage the inner surface of the face plate I4 to properly position the said plate within said frame during the construction of the block. The flanges 21 are adapted to be embedded in the body portion I3 The top and bottom members I9 and 20 of the frame I6 also comprise ilat stripsof metal of the same width as the side members I1 and I8 and secured to the inner faces thereof are the longitudinally extending angle strips 28 which align and cooperate with nel members 25 to properly position the face plate in the frame. While only the opposite side edges of the face plate I4 are here shown as being provided with grooves, it will be appreciated that the top and bottom edges thereof may also be grooved and the top and bottom members I9 and 20 of the metal frame provided with beads to fit in said grooves if desired.

In the construction of the building block I2 above described, the two side members I1 and I8 of the metal frame are first associated with either the top or bottom member as shown in the anges 26 of chan- Fig. 4, being welded or otherwise suitably secured together. The face plate I4 is then slipped into the open side of the frame, with the beads 2| and 22 on the side members being received within the grooves 23 and 24 in the edges of the face plate, after which the remaining member of the frame is secured to the free ends of said side members by Welding or in any other desired manner. When the face plate I4 is properly assembled with the metal frame, the inner surface of said face plate engages the flanges 26 of the channel members 25 and also the angle Strip 28.

After the face plate and metal frame have been assembled, they are laid horizontally upon a suitable support with the face plate downwardly. A layer of mastic or other suitable adhesive I5 of the desired thickness is then poured over the back surface of the face plate, after which the concrete or other plastic material forming the body portion I3 is poured over the layer of adhesive. It will be readily apparent that when this is done, the metal frame constitutes a mold or pan into which the adhesive 'and concrete are poured. Also, that after the concrete has set, the flanges 21 of the side members I1 and I8 of the frame will be firmly embedded therein.

Prior to the pouring of the concrete body portion, however, a plurality vof braces 29 may be associated with the frame I 6. As shown, these braces are substantially T-shaped in cross section and are adapted to extend vertically when the block is mounted in the wall. In practice, the braces are cemented in place with the mastic, after which the concrete is poured so that thesaid braces are embedded in both the layer of mastic I5 and body portion I3. These braces act as columns in a building and bear whatever pressure develops so as to take'the strain from the concrete as well as from the face plate. The said braces are also formed so as to hold the concrete together in the frame.

In constructing a wall from the blocks I2, the said blocks may be laid up in courses as shown in Fig. 1, with the adjacent blocks being slightly spaced from one another to permit the application of a pointing material in the joints. The blocks are also adapted to be mechanically tied to the rear or foundation wall A in the same manner as is done with cut stone, granite, or the like. This may be accomplished by the use of a plurality of strap iron anchors each com# prising a fiat body portion 30 which is-gbuilt .into the rear or foundation wall A so thatit-'cannot be pulled out. f

The outer end of the body portion 3D 'of the anchor is split, longitudinally to provide the tongues 3I and 32 which are bent in opposite directions at right angles to said body portion. 'Ihe top and bottom members I9 and .20 of the metal frame I6 are provided with slots 33 and the concrete body portion I3 is also formed at the top and bottom thereof with openings 34 which register with the slots 33 in the top and bottom members of said frame. When using this type of anchor, it will be seen that each anchor engages two blocks. Thus, the tongue 3| will pass through the slot 33 in the frame and be received in the opening 34 in the top of one block while the tongue 32 will be received in the opening in the bottom of the vertically adjacent block. Ordinary cement mortar 35 can also be used for installing the blocks against the foundation wall. If desired, spacing strips 36 of cork or other suitable material may be arranged in the horizontal joint between vertically adjacent blocks, as shown in Fig. 3, to act as a cushion. 'Ihese strips terminate inwardly oi the outer surfaces of -the face plates to provide for the introduction of pointing material 31 in the joints. The pointing material is also placed in the vertical joints between horizontally adjacent blocks.

It is to be understood that the form of the invention herewith shown and described is to be taken as the preferred embodiment of the same, and that various changes in the shape, size and arrangement of parts may be resorted to Without departing from thc spirit of the invention or the scope of the subjoined claims.

I claim:

l. A building block of the character described comprising a body portion formed from plastic material, a face plate of vitreous material covering a surface of the body portion and provided with grooves in opposite edges thereof, and a metal frame arranged entirely around said body portion land having portions thereof received within the grooves inthe edges of said face plate.

2. A building block4 of the character described comprising a body portion formed from plastic material, a face plate of vitreous material covering a surface of the body portion, a layer of aclhesive material between the face plate and body portion, said face plate being provided with grooves in opposite edges thereof, and a metal frame arranged entirely around sait.l body portion and having portions thereof received within the grooves in the edges of said face plate.

3. A building block of the character described comprising a body portion formed from concrete, a face plate covering a surface of the body portion and provided with grooves in opposite edges thereof, and a metal frame arranged entirely around the body portion and having portions thereof received within the grooves in the edges of said face plate and other portions embedded in said body portion.

4. A building block of the character described comprising a body portion formed from concrete, a face plate covering a surface of the body portion, a layer of adhesive material between the face plate and body portion, said face plate being provided with grooves in opposite edges thereof, and a metal frame arranged entirely around the body portion and having portions thereof received within thf` grooves in the edges of said face plate and other portions embedded in said body portion.

5. A building block ofthe character described comprising a body'portion formed from plastic material, a face plate covering a surface of the body portion and provided with grooves in oppositeedges thereof, a metal frame arranged entirely around said body portion and having portions thereof received Within the grooves in the edges of said face plate, and means carried by the metal `frame and engaging the inner surface Il y I /M j A of the face plate for positioning the said face plate relative to said frame.

6. A building block of the character described comprising a body portion formed from plastic material, a face plate covering a surface of the body portion, a layer of adhesive material between the face plate and body portion, said face plate being provided with grooves in opposite edges thereof, a metal frame arranged entirely around said body portion and having portions thereof received within the grooves in the edges of said face plate', and means carried by the metal frame `and engaging the inner surface of the face plate for positioning the said face plate relative to said frame.

'7. A building block of the character described comprising a body portion formed from concrete, a face plate covering a surface of the body portion and provided with grooves in opposite edges thereof, a metal frame arranged entirely around the body portion and having portions thereof received within the grooves in the edges of said face plate and other portions embedded in said body portion, and means carried by the metal frame and engaging the inner surface of the face plate for positioning the said face plate relative to said frame.

8. A building block of the character described comprising a body portion formed from concrete, a face plate covering a surface of the body portion, a layer of adhesive material between the face plate and body portion, said face plate being provided with grooves in opposite edges thereof, a metal frame arranged entirely around the body portion and having portions thereof received within the grooves in the edges of said face plate and other portions embedded in said body portion, and means carriedby the metal frame and engaging the inner surface of the face plate for positioning the said face plate relative to said frame.

9. A building` block of the character described comprising a body portion formed from plastic material, a face plate covering a surface of the body portion and provided With grooves in opposite edges thereof, a frame comprising a plurality of fiat metal strips arranged entirely around the body portion, certain of said strips having inturned longitudinal edges which are received within the grooves in the edges of said face plate, and means carried by other of said strips and embedded in said body portion.

10. A building block of the character described comprising a body portion formed from plastic material, a face plate covering a surface of the body portion and provided with grooves in opposite edges thereof, a layer of adhesive' material between the face plate and body portion, a frame comprising a plurality of at metal strips arranged entirely around the body portion, certain of said strips having inturned longitudinal edges which are received within the grooves in the edges of said face plate, and means carried by other of said strips and embedded in said body portion.

11. A building block ofthe character described comprising a body portion {c1-:ned from concrete, a face plate covering a surface of the body por tion and provided with grooves in opposite edges thereof, a frame comprising a plurality of flat metal strips arranged entirely around the body portion, certain of said strips having inturned longitudinal edges which are received within the the grooves in the edges of said face plate, and means carried by other of said strips engaging the inner surface of the face plate and also embedded in said body portion.

12. A building block of the character described comprising a body portion formed from concrete, a face plate covering a surface of the body portion and provided with grooves in opposite edges thereof, a layer of adhesive material between the face plate and body portion, a frame comprising a plurality of flat metal strips arranged entirely around the body portion, certain of said strips having inturned longitudinal edges which are received Within the grooves in the edges of said face plate, and means kcarried by other of said strips engaging the inner surface of the face plate and also embedded in said body portion.

CHARLES E. JOHNSON. 

